Three of Carilion’s  family medicine sites in Roanoke have been recognized for their collaborative and proactive approach to healthcare. Here is a press release from Carilion:

Three Carilion Clinic Family Medicine practices located in Roanoke were recently recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Patient-Centered Medical Homes. Family medicine sites on Brambleton Ave., Colonial Ave. and Peters Creek Road adopted a new model of care premised on the strength of the patient-doctor relationship.

Medical homes are designed to improve health, facilitate an ongoing relationship between the patient and healthcare team, reduce costs and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. The ultimate focus is on wellness – keeping patients healthy and preventing illness.

“We are thrilled to see our family medicine practices transition to Patient-Centered Medical Homes,” explains Howard Graman, M.D., chair of the department of primary care and regional medicine at Carilion Clinic. “Recognition by NCQA reinforces the hard work that our practices have put into making their sites very efficient, better equipped and more coordinated.”

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognizes practices that have achieved medical home status through its Physician Practice Connections – Patient-Centered Medical Home program.

Medical home practices separate their staff into teams, each consisting of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and care coordinators – all of which help to ensure the appropriate care is delivered. The teams meet each day to discuss the patients they will see that day and address issues regarding their care.

“The relationship between the individual patients and their personal healthcare team is very important. We encourage patients to take a proactive approach to their health and give them the tools to do so,” says Graman.

MyChart is one such tool. An electronic patient portal, patients can contact their healthcare team via email for advice, prescription refills or request appointments. Aside from MyChart, enhanced access is shown through same-day appointments and expanded hours.

Carilion Clinic has a number of other family medicine practices that are already recognized as medical homes by NCQA. Look for other Carilion Clinic practices to adopt this new approach to primary care and earn NCQA recognition in the coming year. For more information, please visit http://www.carilionclinic.org/Carilion/Medical_Home.